Wrapping machine



P 1947- B. A. ARVIDSON 2,418,449

WRAPPING MACHINE Filed Sept. 27, 1943 8'Sheets-Sheet 1 April 1947- B. A.ARVIDSON 2,418,449

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WRAPPING MACHINE Filed Sept. 2'7, 1945 8 Sheets-Sheet '7 April 1947- B.A. ARVIDSON 2,418,449

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,Ja/gm fieyfgwam f yz Patented Apr. 8,1947

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE WRAPPING MACHINE Bengt A. Arvidson, VillaPark, Ill., assignor to Miller Wrapping and Sealing Machine Company,Chicago, 111., a corporation of Illinois Application September 27, 1943,Serial No. 503,885

. 12 Claims. 1

The machine of the present invention is designed primarily for thewrapping of a stack of cracker sandwiches of a character now beingwidely sold which, when stacked, provide a cylindrical form although theinvention is not in any way limited to the wrapping of sandwiches or thelike, or even to the wrapping of articles cylindrical in form sincevariations in the nature of the product and in the form of the packagemay be made without departing from the spirit of the invention.

However, for purposes of description, reference will be made to a stackof cracker sandwiches, each consisting of two circular crackers with aninterposed layer of peanut butter or the like, the individual sandwichesbeing wrapped as a package of six or more sandwiches. In the sale ofpackages of this character, it is desired to employ cellophane orsimilar transparent wrapping material which will smoothly overlie theends of the package and be folded down and sealed along the sides whichpermits ready inspection of the contents while thoroughly seal-j ing thesame against the ingress of moisture or vapor.

The machine consists in general of means for delivering a column ofcracker sandwiches or the like to the wrapping position, means foradvancing strips of heat sealing material across each end of, the columnand severing the wrapping material to provide sections of the properlength, clamping the severed sections against the ends of the package,folding down one of the wrappers along the sides of the column, bodilyadvancing the column through a fixed ring or die to fold down thewrapper at the opposite end into overlapping relation with the sidefolds of the first wrapper, and continuing the advancement through asealing ring to the point of final discharge.

The present invention embodies the above principle in mechanical formwhich makes provision for automatically timing the various operations insequential order up to the point of final delivery. Further objects anddetails will appear from the description of the invention in conjunctionwith the accompanying drawings wherein- Figure 1 is a. perspective viewof the front of the machine;

Fig. 2 is an end view into the interior of the machine with the righthand wall of the cabinet removed;

Fig. 3 is a view from the rear taken on line 3-3 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is an enlarged detail of the plunger .wiches through to the finaldischarge of the wrapped package;

Fig. 11 is a detail of the feeding rolls for the strip of wrappingmaterial taken on line I I| of Fig. 2;

Fig. 12 is a sectional view of the same taken on the offset line l2--|2of Fig. 11;

Fig. 13 is a view of the cutters for severing the wrapper strips takenon line l3-l3 of Fig. 2; p

Fig. 14 is a detail of the cam feed for the wrapper rolls;

. Fig. 15 is a similar view at right angles to that of Fig. 14; g

Fig. 16 is a side elevation of the clamping jaws for delivering thecolumn of sandwiches or the like to the wrapping position;

Fig. 17 is a view taken on line l1-I'I of Fig. 16;

Fig. 18 is a cross sectional detail taken on line 18-18 of Fig. 16;

Figs. 19 and 20 are perspective views of two forms of package wrapped bythe machine of the present invention.

The machine as a whole is mounted within a cabinet comprising a frontwall 20, end walls 2|, spaced base sills 22 and a cover panel v23. Thesandwiches, crackers or the like, are carried across the front of themachine upon an endless carrier 24 running between guide rails 25.. Asthe crackers or similar units approach the center of r the cabinet, aspecified number are removed from the carrier by the operator and heldtogether in column form and placed between the jaws 26 'of a swingingfeeder 21 carried by an arm 28 which projects outwardly from a sleeve 29through which is entered a spindle 30 mounted in spaced ears 3|. Thejaws 2B are best illustrated in Figs. 16, 17 and 18 from which it willbe noted that the jaws extend outwardly from bars 32 each of which ispivoted at its inner end upon a pivot 33 entered through under and upperplates 34 and 35 which respectively terminate at their outer ends inspaced retaining fingers 36 and 31 which, in conjunction with the springjaws 26, afiord a receptacle for engaging and clamping a unit stack ofthe package items and hold them in column form during the upswing of thearm 28.

In order to hold the spring jaws separated during the positioning of thecolumn of items, a

cone-shaped boss 38 is provided, the' base of which is supported at theend of a bracket arm 39 bolted to the frame of the cabinet, which bossprojects upwardly between the bars 32 which are preferably beveled alongtheir contacting edges as at (see Fig. 18). The arrangement is such thatas the arm 28 is swung downwardly to its receiving position; the]pivoted bars 32 will be slightly spread apart against the tension of aconnecting spring 4| (see Fig. 17) so that clearance may be provided forthe easy insertion of the column of items. upwardly, however, the barswill be freed from contact with the cone boss 38 so that they will drawtogether and clamp the ends'of the column and hold the same againstdisplacement. The outer end of the arm 28 is bolted to the superposedplates 34 and 35 which thus afford a rigid connection for the swingingfeeder. swing the carrier delivers the clamped column into the spacebetween outstanding brackets '42 which carry' a supporting part3, theends of whichare secured to outwardly projecting upper sills M whicharrangement affords an outer frame for- 'the support of the principaloperating elements to be hereinafter described. Y

The -outer frame is provided near each end with obliquely disposed innerand outer bracket armseach of which is provided near its center with anoutward projection 46 having a U-shaped notch 4? which aligned notchesafford bearings for the-spindles 48 which carry the rolls 49 ofcellophane or other wrapping material. Th'e'ends ofeach pair of bracketarms are connected by a tie-rod ilo which in'each instance affords apoint of connection for a brake strap 5| carrying a weight 52 andoverlying the wrapper roll to prevent overrunning of the same. Theends-of the respective wrapper strips are carried down over'feed -rolls53 provided with grooves 54, the feed rolls 'coacting with springpressed pressure rolls '55 provided with grooves 55a as shown in Fig.11. Eachpressure roll 55 is mounted upon a spindle 56 journaled within aslot5l and contacted by a slidably mounted journal block 58, the twojournal blocks being forced outwardly by an interposed spring 59, itbeing' understood that the arrangement is duplicated at each end ofthe-spindles'55. This arrangement permits the operator to draw back thespindles to provide clearance space 'between the feed rolls and thepressure rolls during'the iii-threading of the ends of the wrapperstrips.

-The feed rolls are carried by spindles each havingfmounted thereon asprocket wheel 6! which sprocket-wheels are driven by a sprocket chain62 which passesover and under the respective sprocket-wheels'fil andaround an idler 63 and a driving sprocket 5 which is recurrentlyoperated by the mechanism shown in Figs. 14 and 15 to feed forward,during each operation,-required lengths 'of wrapping material which arethereupon severed from the strip to provide wrappers forthe oppositeends of the column unit. The spacing of the feedand pressure rolls issuchfthatthe wrapper strips will be fed down past the opposite ends 'ofthe column or other body to be wrapped, and, as indicated in Fig. 12,the leading ends of the strips are guided in each case between inner andouter guide fingers 65 and 66 (Fig. v12), the upper or free ends ofwhich lie within the confines of the grooves a and 54 in the respectiverolls. I

-Thejleading ends of the strip are brought into register with spacedcompanion 'plungers 61 and On its up- As the arm 28 is swung f 4 63which coact in the series of operations illustrated in Figs. 5 to 10inclusive. The plunger 61, when retracted, lies within the throated end69 of a tubular folder it, while the plunger 68 is retracted within theguide ring H and in align ment with a heat sealing ring 72. The plunger61 is carried by a thrust rod l3 and the plunger EB'b'ya thrust ro'd'lfitelescopedthrougha sleeve l5 and surrounded by a coil spring 16 whichbears against the plunger. Fig. 5 illustrates the relation of thepartsimmediately after the swinging feeder has delivered a column unitto the wrapping space which aligns with the axes of the plungers. As thefeeder is swung upwardly, the leading ends of the wrappers will be feddownwardly in unison between cutters, each consisting of a fixedshearing blade I! and a movable shearing. blade 78 (shown in detail inFig. 13). Immediately thereafter 'the.,shears will act to sever thesections in preparation for the inward ad- Vance of the opposedplungers, each of which on its acting face is provided with a recess 19to alford clearance for the recession for the jaws of the feeder afterthe plungers have contacted and clamped the respective wrapper sectionsagainst the ends of the column of cracker sandwiches or other article ofmerchandise. Immediately thereafter the feeder will swing away leavingthe column clamped between the plungers as 'in Fig. 7.

The next operation is performed by the ad- Vance of the .tubul'arfolderJG as in Fig. 8 which folds down and drapes the edges of the wrapperaround the cylindrical or otherwise configured .walls of the package butwith the plungers still' maintaining the position indicated in Figs. 6and 7. The final folding operation is performed by 1 the continuingadvancement of the thrust rod 13 throughout the range of movementindicated in Figs. 9 and 10. This movement first carries the partlywrapped package through the folder ring 'H'which folds down or drapesthe edges of the wrapper around the packag and in overlapped relation tothe opposing wrapper and the coni tinued advancement of the thrust rodcarries the completely folded package through the heat sealin'g rin "52which is provided 'withheating ele ments to 'maintain a sufficientdegree of temperature to fuse the draped and overlapped edges of thewrapper sections while the same-are being driven through the sealingring. This movement will continue until the package is ejected beyondthe sealing ring at which 'point the plunger 68 will draw away from theend of the package to permit the same to fall by gravity, as in Fig. 10,into the dischargingtrough 80 shown in Fig. 1 which delivers thecompletely wrapped and sealedpackage on to the moving carrier! for finaldelivery.

The foregoing operations are performed in properly timed sequence and bymechanism which will now be described more fully'in detail. The pswinging feeder arm 28 mounted on'the pintle 30* u is provided withaninner extension 8| (Fig. 2)

which is connected by a link 82 with the forward end of l a lever 83,pivoted at its rear end upon'a rod 84 and provided witha roller 85 whichrides upon the surface of a cam 85 carried by'a cam shaft 81 having asprocket 88 mounting a sprocket chain 89 driven by a driving sprocketSU'and' passing over an adjustable tension sprocket 91. The drivingsprocket is driven by a motor 92 (Fig. 3) through a pulley 93, belt 94,driven pulley 95 and gear reduction elements 95. Mountings. and drivingconnections for the plungers are-be'st-i illustrated in Fig. 4. Thethrust rod I3 which carried the plunger 61 is in the form of the forwardleg of a rectangular open frame-like structure which in addition to thethrust rod includes a rear section 91 and connecting end sections 98 and99, the latter of which carries the tube I5 through which the plungerthrust rod It is entered.

The outer frame coacts with an inner frame of smaller dimensionscomprising a short forward leg I60 which carries the folding tube 70, alonger rear leg IilI and a connecting section I02. The outer and innerframes are guided for reciprocating movement between pairs of groovedrollers I83, I85 and I05, suitably mounted on the frame of the machine.The outer frame is reciprocated by the action of a lever I55 pivoted atits rear upon a fixed pivot I! and connected at its forward end througha link I68 to the rear leg 91 of the outer reciprocating frame. Theinner frame is actuated by a lever Hi9 pivoted at its rear end upon thepivot I ill and connected through a link I ill with the rear leg of theinner frame.

The lever I65 carries a roller III operating within a cam groove H2 inthe upper face of a cam H3 (Fig. 2). The cam is mounted upon a verticalshaft H4 driven by beveled gearing IIS from the cam shaft 8?. The leverlilfi carries a roller H6 bearing upon the rim of a cam lil also carriedby the vertical cam shaft i it. The re turn movement of the lever I iii!is effected through the tension of the spring I IS.

The outer end of the thrust rod 1 3 is pivoted to a trip lever H9fulcrurned at IZii in position to bring its free end IZI into coactingrelation with a stop I22 which may be any fixed portion of the machineand so related to the trip lever that, when the plunger 58 approachesthe position indicated in Fig. 10, the free end of the trip lever willstrike the abutment before the movement of the outer frame is concluded,thereby drawing back the forward end of the trip lever and retractingthe plunger 68 sufiiciently to release the wrapped and sealed package asin Fig. 10.

The down feeding movements imparted to the wrapper strips are effectedthrough the operation of the rack and pinion mechanism shown in Figs. 14and 15. The sprocket 54 is carried by a shaft I23 carrying a clutch cupE25 surrounding a clutch block I25 having spring backed ball clutchelements I26 so arranged as to import a one-way drive to the shaft. Theclutch block I25 is connected with a pinion l2? meshing with the teethof a rack I28 operated by a lever IEB, pivoted at its rear end upon therod 85 and carrying a roller Hill which engages the rim of a cam diskI3! on the shaft 81 and acts against the tension of a spring I32.Cutters are shown in detail in Fig. 13 and it will there be noted thatthe movable shear blades l8l8 are pivoted to the fixed blades TI bypivots I33 and that the upper ends of the shear blades are connectedwith a cross header bar it which is pivoted by a pin and slot connectionto the lower end of a lever I35 pivoted at 535 and carrying a rollerI3'I at its upper end which rides upon a cam I38 and acts in oppositionto a spring I39. The cam I38 is mounted upon the vertical cam shaft HA.

In order to more effectively guide the advancing ends of the wrapperstrips after they pass the cutters, depending guide fingers I l (Fig.12) are provided which hold the ends of the strips in proper positionadjacent the plungers 67 and 68. The receiving position of the swingingfeeder can be adjusted by a screw stop MI (Fig. 16) and by correspondingadjustments in the links 82 which regulate the throw of the feeder withrelation to the position of the plungers which may be desirable onoccasion where the dimensions of the jaws and guide fingers of thefeeder require adjustment to accommodate packages of varying size.

Operation The units to be wrapped, whether the same be in the form ofgroups of sandwiches, cookies or the like, to be combined as-a saleableunit, or whether in the form of cartons, containers or the like, arecarried forward in processional form by the conveyor 24 and are liftedas units therefrom by the operator and deposited between the springtensioned jaws of the swinging feeder which uperates at timed intervalsto carry the units up to the wrapping point. As the feeder swingsupwardly, the jaws will be released from contact with the cone-shapedboss 38 and will be drawn together to clamp the ends of the unit andprevent its dislodgement as it is being swung into place between theplungers.

While the unit is being swung upwardly, the feeding rollers for thewrapper strips will act in unison to feed down two lengths of wrapper,one adjacent each end of the unit, and thereupon the plungers willadvance to clamp the ends of the strips against opposite ends of theunit. As soon as this occurs the cutters will act to sever the strips,thereby providing wrapper sheets of the required length and width topermit the edges to be folded down and draped or lapped around the sidesof the unit.

Thereupon the jaws of the feeder will withdraw and thus condition themachine for the folding operations. The tubular folder will firstadvance as in Fig. 8 to fold down and drape the edges of the adjacentwrapper sheet around the sides of the unit and thereafter both plungerswith the interposed and partially wrapped unit will advance in unisonthrough the stages indicated in Figs. 9 and 10 and, by continuousmovement, carry the unit first through the wrapper ring it to fold backand drape the edges of the adjacent wrapper sheet around the sides ofthe unit and in overlapped relation to the previously draped edges ofthe companion wrapper sheet. With the unit thus completely enclosed atboth ends and around the sides, the movement will continue through theheat sealing ring which, during the interval while the package istraversing the ring, will fuse the overlapped edges of the wrappersheets and thus, in transit, seal the package bifore it reaches thepoint of discharge and is released by the plungers.

The machine is of rugged construction and the timing of the operation issuch as to per form all the steps in practically continuous sequence andat a single level and by mechanism which avoids the use of folder bladesor the like with a resultant reduction in the number of moving parts anda general simplification of the structure as a whole.

Although the invention has been described in full detail, it will beunderstood that numerous variations in structure and in the driving andtransmission trains employed may be made without departing from thespirit of the invention.

The type of unit wrapped into package form may be cylindrical as in Fig.19 or square as in Fig. 20 or of various intermediate forms dependingupon the configuration of the plungers and dies employed to perform thefolding and sealing operations, but in all instances the completedpackage will have the end wrapper sections turned down and more or lessirregularly folded around the sides and in overlapping relation to oneanother which provides along the edge of the overlapping wrappersection, an irregular series of free points, in the nature of tabs,-which afford a finger hold in tearing the Wrapper free from the enclosedunit.

If desired, an outer finishing strip of the character shown in Fig, 19may encircle the sealed package to provide a label or the like, but thisis not necessary in the provision of a sealed enclosure for the contentsof the package.

Iclaim:

1. In a wrapping machine, the combination of a frame, means fordelivering the unit to be wrapped to the wrapping position, means forpositioning wrapper sheets adjacent opposite ends of the unit, a pair ofspaced plungers normally standing in proximate relation to the wrappersheets at opposite ends of the unit, a tubular folder normallyencircling one of the plungers, a folding ring normally encircling theother plunger, mountings for the respective plungers and the tubularfolder, and actuating means adapted to first advance the plungersinwardly relatively to one another to clamp the wrapper sheets againstthe ends of the unit and thereafter advance the tubular folder inwardlyrelatively to the encircled plunger to fold down the edges of theproximate wrapper sheet, and thereafter advance both plungers in unisonto carry the partially wrapped unit through the folding ring and therebyfold down the edges of the proximate wrapper sheet.

2. In a wrapping machine, the combination of a frame, means fordelivering the unit to be wrapped to the wrapping position, means forpositioning wrapper sheets adjacent opposite ends of the unit, a pair ofspaced plungers normally standing in proximate relation to the wrappersheets at opposite ends of the unit, a tubular folder normallyencircling one of the plungers, a folding ring and a heat sealing ringin register with the folding ring, mountings for the respective plungersand the tubular folder, and actuating means adapted to first advance theplungers inwardly relatively to one another to clamp the wrapper sheetsagainst the ends of the unit and thereafter advance the tubular folderinwardly relatively to the encircled plunger to fold down the edges ofthe proximate wrapper sheet, and thereafter advance both plungers inunison to carry the partially wrapped unit through the folding ring andthereby fold down the edges of the proximate wrapper sheet and carry thewrapped package through the heat sealing ring.

3. In a wrapping machine, the combination of a frame, a feeder mountedto swing in a vertical plane and having jaws adapted to receive andclamp theunit to be wrapped and deliver the same to the wrappingposition, means for positioning wrapper sheets adjacent opposite ends ofthe unit, a pair of spaced plungers normally standing in proximaterelation to the wrapper sheets at opposite ends of the unit, a tubularfolder normally encircling one of the plungers, a folding ring normallyencircling the other plunger, mountings for the respective plungers andthe tubular folder, and actuating means adapted to first advance theplungers inwardly relatively to one another to clamp the wrappersheetsagainst the ends of the unit and thereafter advance thetubularfolder inwardly relatively to the encircled plunger to fold downthe edges of the proximate wrapper sheet, and thereafter ad- Vance bothplunger in unison to carry the partially wrapped unit through thefolding ring and thereby fold down the edges of the proximate I wrappersheet.

4. In a wrapping machine, the combination of a frame, a feeder mountedto swing in a vertical plane and having jaws adapted to receive andclamp the unit to be wrapped and deliver the same to the wrappingposition, means for positioning wrapper sheets adjacent opposite ends ofthe unit, a pair of spaced plungers normally standing in proximaterelation to the wrapper sheets at opposite ends of the unit, a tubularfolder normally encircling one of the plungers, a folding ring normallyencircling the other plunger, a heat sealing ring in register with thefolding ring, mountings for the respective plungers and the tubularfolder, and actuating means adapted to first advance the plungersinwardly relatively to one another to clamp the wrapper sheets againstthe ends of the unit and thereafter advance the tubular folder inwardlyrelatively to the encircled plunger to fold down the edges of theproximate wrapper sheet, and thereafter advance both plungers in unisonto carry the partially wrapped unit through the folding ring and therebyfold down the edges of the proximate wrapper sheet and carry the wrappedpackage through the heat sealing ring.

5. In a wrapping machine, the combination of a frame, a feeder mountedto swing in a vertical plane and having jaws adapted to receive andclamp the unit to be wrapped and deliver the same to the wrappingposition, means for positioning wrapper sheets adjacent opposite ends ofthe unit, a pair of spaced plungers normally standing in proximaterelation to the wrapper sheets at opposite ends of the unit, a tubularfolder normally encirclin one of the plungers, a folding ring normallyencircling the other plunger, mountings for the respective plungers andthe tubular folder, and actuating means adapted to first advance theplungers inwardly relatively to one another to clamp the wrapper sheetsagainst the ends of the unit and thereafter advance the tubular folderinwardly relatively to the encircled plunger to fold down the edges ofthe proximate wrapper sheet, and thereafter advance both plungers inunison to carry the partially wrapped unit through the foldin ring andthereby fold down the edges of the proximate wrapper sheet, and meansfor spreading the jaws of the swinging feeder when lowered to permitinsertion of a unit to be wrapped.

6. In a wrapping machine, the combination of a frame, a feeder mountedto swing in a vertical plane and having jaws adapted to receive andclamp the unit to be wrapped and deliver the same to the wrappingposition, means for positioning wrapper sheets adjacent opposite ends ofthe unit, a pair of spaced plungers normally standing'in proximaterelation to the wrapper sheets at opposite ends of the unit, a tubularfolder normally encircling one of the plungers, a folding ring normallyencircling the other plunger, a heat sealing ring in register with thefolding ring, mountings for the respective plungers and the tubularfolder, and actuating means adapted to first advance the plungersinwardly relatively to one another to clamp the wrapper sheets againstthe ends of the unit and thereafter advance the tubular folder inwardlyrelativelyto the encircled plunger to fold down the edges'of theproximate wrapper sheet, and thereafter advance both plungers in unisonto carry the partially wrapped unit through the folding ring and therebyfold down the edges of the proximate wrapper sheet and carry the wrappedlpackage through the heat sealing ring, and means for spreading the jawsof theswinging feeder when lowered to permit insertion of a unit to bewrapped.

7. In a wrapping machine, the combination of a frame, a device fordelivering the unit to be wrapped to the wrapping position, means forfeeding two continuous strips of wrapping material to bring theirleading ends adjacent the po sition occupied by the ends of the unit tobe wrapped, cutters for severing the ends of the strips to providewrapper sheets, a pair of spaced plungers normally standing in proximaterelation to the wrapper sheets at opposite ends of the unit, a tubularfolder normally encircling one of the plungers, a folding ring normallyencircling the other plunger, mountings for the respective plungers andthe tubular folder, and means adapted to first actuate the unitdeliverin device and strip feeders, and then, in timed sequence, toadvance the plungers inwardly relatively to one another to clamp thewrapper sheets against the ends of the unit and actuate the cutters andthen advance the tubular folder inwardly relatively to the encircledplunger to fold down the edges of the proximate wrapper sheet andthereafter advance both plungers in unison to carry the partiallywrapped unit through the folding ring and thereby fold down the edges ofthe proximate wranner sheet 8. In a wrapping machine, the combination ofa frame, a device for delivering the unit to be wrapped to the wrappingposition, means for feeding two continuous strips of wrapping materialto bring their leading ends adjacent the position occupied by the endsof the unit to be wrapped, cutters for severing the ends of the stripsto provide wrapper sheets, a pair of spaced plungers normally standingin proximate relation to the wrapper sheets at opposite ends of theunit, a tubular folder normally encircling one of the plungers, afolding ring normally encircling the other plunger, a heat sealing ringin register with the folding ring, mountings for the respective plungersand the tubular folder, and means adapted to first actuate the unitdelivering device and strip feeders, and thereafter, in timed sequence,to advance the plungers inwardly relatively to one another to clamp thewrapper sheets against the unit and actuate the cutters and advance thetubular folder inwardly relatively to the encircled plunger to fold downthe edges of the proximate wrapper sheet and thereafter advance bothplungers in unison to carry the partially wrapped unit through thefolding ring and heat sealing ring and thereby fold down and seal theedges of the proximate wrapper sheet.

9. In a wrapping machine, the combination of a frame, a feeder mountedto swing in a vertical plane and having jaws adapted to receive andclamp the unit to be wrapped and deliver the same to the wrappingposition, means for feeding two continuous strips of wrapping materialto bring their leading ends adjacent the position occupied by the endsof the unit to be wrapped, cutters for severing the ends of the stripsto provide wrapper sheets, a pair of spaced plungers normally standingin proximate relation to the wrapper sheets at opposite ends of theunit, a tubular folder normally encircling one of the plungers, afolding ring normally encircling the against the ends of the unit andactuate the cutters and then advance the tubular folder inwardlyrelatively to the encircled plunger to fold down the edges of theproximate wrapper sheet and thereafter advance both plungers in unisonto carry the partially wrapped unit through the .folding ring andthereby fold downthe edges of the proximate wrapper sheet.

10. In awrapping machine, the combination of a frame, a feeder mountedto swing in a vertical plane and having jaws adapted to receive andclamp the unit to be wrapped and deliver the same to the Wrappingposition, means for feeding two continuous strips of wrapping materialto bring their leading ends adjacent the position occupied by the endsof the unit to be wrapped, cutters for severing the ends of the stripsto provide wrapper sheets, a pair of spaced plungers normally standingin proximate relation to the wrapper sheets at opposite ends of theunit, a tubular folder normally encircling one of the plungers, afolding ring normally encircling the other plunger, 2. heat sealing ringin register with the folding ring, mountings for the respective plungersand the tubular folder, and means adapted to first actuate the unitdelivering feeder and strip feeders, and thereafter, in timed sequence,to advance the plungers inwardly relatively to one another to clamp thewrapper sheets against the ends of the unit and actuate the cutters andthen advance the tubular folder inwardly relatively to the encircledplunger to fold down the edges of the proximate wrapper sheet andthereafter advance both plungers in unison to carry the partiallywrapped unit through the folding ring and heat sealing ring and therebyfold down and seal the edges of the proximate wrapper sheet.

11. In a wrapping machine, the combination of a frame mounting opposedplungers normally standing opposite a unit to be wrapped, means forfeeding two strips of wrapping material to p0- sitions adjacent oppositefaces of the unit and the plungers adjacent thereto, a tubular folderencircling each plunger, mountings for the plun ers and the tubularfolders carried by the frame, actuating means adapted to first sever awrapper sheet from each strip and advance the two plungers relatively tothe wrapper sheets to hold the same against opposite faces of the unitand then relatively advance one tubular folder beyond its encircledplunger and thereafter to relatively advance the other tubular folderbeyond both plungers to fold down the edges of the two wrapper sheets inoverlapping relation around the unit, and means for holding the unitagainst displacement preliminary to the folding operation.

12. In a wrapping machine the combination of a frame whereon is mountedmeans for delivering the unit to be wrapped to the wrapping position,means for feeding two strips of wrapping material to positions adjacentopposite faces of the unit, means for severing from each strip a wrappersheet while positioned adjacent one face of the unit, two plungersnormally standing in proximate relation to opposite faces of the wrappersheet and in alignment with the unit, a tubular folder encircling eachplunger, mountings for tubular folder inwardly beyond its encircledplunger to fold down the edges of one wrapper sheet around the unit, andthen advance the two plungers relative to the other tubular folder tofold down the edges of the other wrapper sheet around the unit, andmeans for holding the unit against displacement preliminary to bothfolding operations, the two plungers near the conclusion of theoperating cycle being thereafter movable in unison to further advancethe wrapped unit 12 to efiect its ejectment from the tubular folders,and its ultimate release and discharge.

BENGT A. ARVIDSON.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Date Dixon Aug. 27, 1935

